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Description of Luxury Guided Tour - Treasures of Cartagena ULCO01
Personal Highlights:
You board your aircraft for the overnight flight to Cartagena on the Northern Coast of Colombia
Day 2 Welcome to Cartagena de Indias
Upon arrival you are met by your guide and taken to your hotel located in the old town of Cartagena. The Nobel Laureate, Garcia Marquez lives next door and the cast of "Love in the time of Cholera" stayed here during filming. After a chance to relax and perhaps take a swim in the hotel's pool you have a quiet dinner at the Hotel's El Refectorio Restaurant where nuns took their meals in earlier times and now you take yours with a soothing musical background.
Day 3 The Charms of Ciudad Amurallada
After breakfast your guide will be waiting to take you on a walking tour of Ciudad Amurallada as the old walled city is known. The walls were built as part of a defensive establishment anchored by a series of forts. While the city has many interesting sights, just walking through the cobblestone alleys in the shadows of the flower-laden balconies is an experience in itself. During your exploration you will visit the Palacio de la Inquisicion which, besides being an excellent example of colonial architecture was also a place of historical if sinister importance since it was here that the tortures of the inquisition took place. There is a museum for you to visit. After that you visit Cartagena Cathedral which was hit by Sir Francis Drake's cannons in the 16th Century and Iglesia de Santa Domingo, the oldest church in the city. You will have an alfresco lunch at another former convent before touring the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas which is the largest of the city's forts. You will spend some time in the tunnels which were designed to assist in the supply of and, if necessary, evacuation from the fortress. As the day ends, you enjoy the views from Convento de la Popa whose flowered patios offer outstanding views of the city and the sea. This evening have dinner at La Vitrola, old Cartagena's trendiest restaurant.
Day 4 A Day in the Islas de Rosario
Cartagena is not known for having the best beaches but close offshore are a series of barrier islands offering pristine beaches and crystal clear water. Your guide will be waiting to take you to the pier where you board your private speedboat for a trip across Cartagena Bay passing through Bocachica and skirting the north coast of Baru before arriving at one of the twenty-seven islands. This particular island was occupied by a French painter who created a small hotel with thatched roofs and decorated in a whimsical style. Upon arrival you have some free time for swimming and snorkeling before enjoying an alfresco lunch by the beach. After lunch you head to the Isla de San Martin where your visit a unique attraction crated by Rafael Vieira. Part aquarium and part petting zoo, this "Oceanario" is where you can feed turtles, fish and even sharks by hand. You return to your base island for some more beach time before returning to the Hotel. After dinner, why not try some Cartagena nightlife?
Day 5 Shopping in the Dungeons
Your day starts with a trip outside the walled city to the modern El Laquito and Bocagrande areas. Although less than ten minutes from the walled city, you travel from the 16th to the 21st Century where high rise condos resemble Brickell Avenue or Punta del Este. After a visit you return to the old city where you have a chance to spend the rest of the morning shopping at Las Bovedas which were originally built as dungeons and now house trendy boutiques. After a little retail therapy the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening please be our guest for an a la carte dinner at La Plaza Restaurant located in the old city and within walking distance of your hotel. What a delightful stroll back it will be. As an alternative why not top off the evening with a horse drawn carriage ride?
Day 6 A Day with " No Reservations"
Today you will follow in the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain as you meet chef Jorge Escadon at your hotel and head to La Plaza de Mercado which is the city's largest market offering a wide variety of fresh seafood, meat and vegatables. As he did on the show "No Reservations", the chef will take you around the market and introduce you to his best suppliers. You will also purchase the ingrdients necessary for a seafood lunch and then head to the chef's beach house at Manzanilla del Mar. In a large open kitchen with stunning sea views you work with the chef in crating the lunch which you then enjoy with some nicely chiled wine. After a leisurely lunch you have the opportunity to walk the beach or take a swim before returning to the old city where your evening is at leisure
Day 7 A Farewell to Cartagena
Today is your last day in Cartagena and we have left it open for you to relax by the pool, wander the cobblestone streets or do some more shopping. If you want high fashion from local designers, try Calle San Juan de Dios, which is close by the hotel or Galerie Cano specializing in pre-Colombian jewelry. As a farewell to the city we have set up a carriage ride with your own guide which gives you one last chance to view the city at a leisurely pace.After your ride, your guide will pick you up for the short trip to the airport where you check in for your flight to the USA.
Day 8 Arrive in the USA
You arrive back in the USA in the morning
- Your charming hotel, a former convent located in the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Viewing all of Cartagena from La Popa monastery
- A private shopping tour in Las Bovedas
- A private boat ride through Cartagena Bay for a day in the Rosario Islands
- Learning Colombian cuisine from one of the city’s top chefs as featured on " No reservations" with Anthony Bourdain
You board your aircraft for the overnight flight to Cartagena on the Northern Coast of Colombia
Day 2 Welcome to Cartagena de Indias
Upon arrival you are met by your guide and taken to your hotel located in the old town of Cartagena. The Nobel Laureate, Garcia Marquez lives next door and the cast of "Love in the time of Cholera" stayed here during filming. After a chance to relax and perhaps take a swim in the hotel's pool you have a quiet dinner at the Hotel's El Refectorio Restaurant where nuns took their meals in earlier times and now you take yours with a soothing musical background.
Day 3 The Charms of Ciudad Amurallada
After breakfast your guide will be waiting to take you on a walking tour of Ciudad Amurallada as the old walled city is known. The walls were built as part of a defensive establishment anchored by a series of forts. While the city has many interesting sights, just walking through the cobblestone alleys in the shadows of the flower-laden balconies is an experience in itself. During your exploration you will visit the Palacio de la Inquisicion which, besides being an excellent example of colonial architecture was also a place of historical if sinister importance since it was here that the tortures of the inquisition took place. There is a museum for you to visit. After that you visit Cartagena Cathedral which was hit by Sir Francis Drake's cannons in the 16th Century and Iglesia de Santa Domingo, the oldest church in the city. You will have an alfresco lunch at another former convent before touring the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas which is the largest of the city's forts. You will spend some time in the tunnels which were designed to assist in the supply of and, if necessary, evacuation from the fortress. As the day ends, you enjoy the views from Convento de la Popa whose flowered patios offer outstanding views of the city and the sea. This evening have dinner at La Vitrola, old Cartagena's trendiest restaurant.
Day 4 A Day in the Islas de Rosario
Cartagena is not known for having the best beaches but close offshore are a series of barrier islands offering pristine beaches and crystal clear water. Your guide will be waiting to take you to the pier where you board your private speedboat for a trip across Cartagena Bay passing through Bocachica and skirting the north coast of Baru before arriving at one of the twenty-seven islands. This particular island was occupied by a French painter who created a small hotel with thatched roofs and decorated in a whimsical style. Upon arrival you have some free time for swimming and snorkeling before enjoying an alfresco lunch by the beach. After lunch you head to the Isla de San Martin where your visit a unique attraction crated by Rafael Vieira. Part aquarium and part petting zoo, this "Oceanario" is where you can feed turtles, fish and even sharks by hand. You return to your base island for some more beach time before returning to the Hotel. After dinner, why not try some Cartagena nightlife?
Day 5 Shopping in the Dungeons
Your day starts with a trip outside the walled city to the modern El Laquito and Bocagrande areas. Although less than ten minutes from the walled city, you travel from the 16th to the 21st Century where high rise condos resemble Brickell Avenue or Punta del Este. After a visit you return to the old city where you have a chance to spend the rest of the morning shopping at Las Bovedas which were originally built as dungeons and now house trendy boutiques. After a little retail therapy the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening please be our guest for an a la carte dinner at La Plaza Restaurant located in the old city and within walking distance of your hotel. What a delightful stroll back it will be. As an alternative why not top off the evening with a horse drawn carriage ride?
Day 6 A Day with " No Reservations"
Today you will follow in the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain as you meet chef Jorge Escadon at your hotel and head to La Plaza de Mercado which is the city's largest market offering a wide variety of fresh seafood, meat and vegatables. As he did on the show "No Reservations", the chef will take you around the market and introduce you to his best suppliers. You will also purchase the ingrdients necessary for a seafood lunch and then head to the chef's beach house at Manzanilla del Mar. In a large open kitchen with stunning sea views you work with the chef in crating the lunch which you then enjoy with some nicely chiled wine. After a leisurely lunch you have the opportunity to walk the beach or take a swim before returning to the old city where your evening is at leisure
Day 7 A Farewell to Cartagena
Today is your last day in Cartagena and we have left it open for you to relax by the pool, wander the cobblestone streets or do some more shopping. If you want high fashion from local designers, try Calle San Juan de Dios, which is close by the hotel or Galerie Cano specializing in pre-Colombian jewelry. As a farewell to the city we have set up a carriage ride with your own guide which gives you one last chance to view the city at a leisurely pace.After your ride, your guide will pick you up for the short trip to the airport where you check in for your flight to the USA.
Day 8 Arrive in the USA
You arrive back in the USA in the morning
Departure Dates
year-round
Places Visited
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